At La Sourde, Joachim fires on his own side in the confusion and David-Troy is mortally wounded by a ball in the neck; the expedition under Lys then falls back.

David-Troy, at the sound of the musketry, had felt his wholly martial soul vibrate; with that impetuosity for which he was known, he had ordered the 22nd to set itself in motion to share the dangers of the struggle. Sword in hand, he harangued his soldiers, according to his custom in decisive moments, and ordered the band to play some patriotic air, when a ball struck him in the neck. Mortally wounded, he still kept that flashing look that he had on the days of battle; floods of foam poured from his mouth (1).

When the famous colonel staggered and fell, a cry of grief went up from all who were at his side. Lys, at that cry, the cause of which he soon learned, left Clermont engaged and ran up, almost distraught. He threw himself upon the body of his friend, whom he believed dead, and covered it with kisses. A few officers put an end to this emotion, natural to a great heart like Lys.

Lys, suddenly regaining his calm, sent orders to cease fire along the whole line and to fall back into the savannas of Hinche, where the army had bivouacked the night before. There he doubtless hoped to resume the offensive.